U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today issued a statement after the Supreme Court ruled it would block the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) carbon rules for power plants while the courts consider a legal challenge from states and industry groups.
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling sends a strong signal to the EPA that it must stop ignoring the damage its regulations are causing to our energy sector, our economy and our way of life in West Virginia. I have made it clear that this agency’s reckless actions must be stopped immediately. The EPA continues to overstep its legal authority and impose regulations one after another regardless of the impact on our economy and our people. I applaud the Supreme Court for recognizing that these regulations are simply unlawful. This ruling is an important step to rein in this out-of-control agency, and I am hopeful the courts will continue to stop the EPA’s Clean Power Plan in order to prevent the loss of millions of jobs, an increase in utility rates, and more damage to our economy. Our own Department of Energy has stated that coal will make up nearly thirty percent of our energy portfolio over the next few decades. Instead of working against us and imposing these self-inflicted wounds to our economy, this Administration should work with us to promote the clean energy technology of the future that we can develop right here in West Virginia.”
